dear_friends_call_to_action_re_fresno_county_jail__3_.pdf | |
File Size: | 41 kb |
File Type: |
Dear Friends,
On April 28, 2019, the Fresno Bee published a front page article about the Fresno County
Jail system. It has the highest number of deaths of any California county jail system and
some of the worst conditions in the state.
Eleven inmates died in 2018 from untreated
drug and alcohol withdrawal, suicide, medical negligence and murder. Thirteen other
people were beaten and hospitalized. Forty-seven deaths have occurred in the last seven
years. Two thirds of the people kept in the jail are awaiting trial, accused but not
convicted.
Many of them are non-violent offenders and many are arrested by the police
and sheriffs for petty misdemeanor offenses. [The city of Fresno has the highest number
of arrests for these offenses in California]. These inhumane conditions and serious over
crowding persist in spite of a federal consent decree issued in 2015 requiring the County
to improve conditions.
Four years after the court order, experts say apathy among the officials in charge has
created a crisis. Don Spector, director of the Prison Law Office, said “sheriffs have been
very indifferent to jail conditions.” He said that there has been a “complete lack of
action”. According to the Fresno Bee, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims has
repeatedly characterized such deaths as the unfortunate consequence of jail life and
expresses no remorse whatsoever.
Sheriff Mims also said one of the most “painful” moments of
her time in office was releasing inmates during the economic downturn. “Being a peace
officer,” Mims said, “you know, you want to keep people locked up.” Mims is under a
court order to immediately release inmates when overcrowding occurs.
The consent decree of 2015 requires Sheriff Mims to hire additional staff to protect and
provide services to inmates, ease overcrowding, and to provide adequate health care.
Since the 2015 decree, lawyers and prison reform experts have had regular meetings with
the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department to examine their progress in correcting the
conditions in the jail. Mims does not attend these meetings and sends her jail
administrators instead. There is no accountability for the Sheriffs Department and the
Board of Supervisors for their lack of regard for human life and a court order.
It is up to us to demand human rights and humane treatment for inmates. It is up to us to
demand the Board allocates funds and fixes the deplorable conditions in the jail. It is up
to us to hold Sheriff Mims and the Board of Supervisors accountable.
We seek your experience, knowledge, and support in an effort to build a broad-based coalition to work
together for human rights and humane conditions in the Fresno County Jail System.
We look forward to your support.
In Solidarity,
Inmate and Prisoner Rights Committee, DSA Fresno
[email protected]
On April 28, 2019, the Fresno Bee published a front page article about the Fresno County
Jail system. It has the highest number of deaths of any California county jail system and
some of the worst conditions in the state.
Eleven inmates died in 2018 from untreated
drug and alcohol withdrawal, suicide, medical negligence and murder. Thirteen other
people were beaten and hospitalized. Forty-seven deaths have occurred in the last seven
years. Two thirds of the people kept in the jail are awaiting trial, accused but not
convicted.
Many of them are non-violent offenders and many are arrested by the police
and sheriffs for petty misdemeanor offenses. [The city of Fresno has the highest number
of arrests for these offenses in California]. These inhumane conditions and serious over
crowding persist in spite of a federal consent decree issued in 2015 requiring the County
to improve conditions.
Four years after the court order, experts say apathy among the officials in charge has
created a crisis. Don Spector, director of the Prison Law Office, said “sheriffs have been
very indifferent to jail conditions.” He said that there has been a “complete lack of
action”. According to the Fresno Bee, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims has
repeatedly characterized such deaths as the unfortunate consequence of jail life and
expresses no remorse whatsoever.
Sheriff Mims also said one of the most “painful” moments of
her time in office was releasing inmates during the economic downturn. “Being a peace
officer,” Mims said, “you know, you want to keep people locked up.” Mims is under a
court order to immediately release inmates when overcrowding occurs.
The consent decree of 2015 requires Sheriff Mims to hire additional staff to protect and
provide services to inmates, ease overcrowding, and to provide adequate health care.
Since the 2015 decree, lawyers and prison reform experts have had regular meetings with
the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department to examine their progress in correcting the
conditions in the jail. Mims does not attend these meetings and sends her jail
administrators instead. There is no accountability for the Sheriffs Department and the
Board of Supervisors for their lack of regard for human life and a court order.
It is up to us to demand human rights and humane treatment for inmates. It is up to us to
demand the Board allocates funds and fixes the deplorable conditions in the jail. It is up
to us to hold Sheriff Mims and the Board of Supervisors accountable.
We seek your experience, knowledge, and support in an effort to build a broad-based coalition to work
together for human rights and humane conditions in the Fresno County Jail System.
We look forward to your support.
In Solidarity,
Inmate and Prisoner Rights Committee, DSA Fresno
[email protected]